Any sense buying this?

[pentoman]

If I were to have had a recent inexplicable urge to buy something American and old, would there be any sense in buying something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1966-67-CADILLA





I'm not saying I'm going to buy this car so I don't care about that make/model, just about the concept of buying one. I would like something original and unrestored, ideally from the late 60s or early 70s but doesn't have to be - could you find a car that is realistically useable? Approximately as 'useable' as, say, an MGB from the same era.

I know fuel consumption will suck, handling will suck etc, and I'd have to buy a rust free one as I'm not interested in a restoration project, but if I found a rust free old 'yank tank' could it be driveable with reasonably regular love and attention (which would be more likely the physical than the financial kind). I'm not expecting it to get me to work every day, but I would like to be able to take it on a long drive without it catching fire too much.

Also if it needed financial love, is it likely to be expensive? Obviously parts will be rare... but I feel like ebay US may overcome that?

Apart from rust are they fragile? Or are they tanks that will go on forever?

[pentoman]

Hmm this one's quiet near me... sounds well maintained, and it's cheap

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CADILLAC-COUPE-

And of course there's the 7.7 V8... 375hp. OK that's NET hp, let's say 330 real BHP. How many of those are likely to be there still?

[pentoman]

Excellent, that's what I wanted to hear.

A question for you since you're wise in the ways of old Caddys..

On here
www.dreamcars.co.uk/cars.htm

Why is this:


a cheapish seeming £7k

but this:

£42k
?

Is it just because it's convertible??

[pentoman]

nick_bbb said:

I use my '67 Dodge everyday it is doable, like you say petrol is the only prob. Lot's of details about how it's gone over here...

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=358581

Thanks, good reading. Sweaty reading in the case of the bit about the 120mph escapade.....!

[pentoman]

Brilliant

Last week I just went through a phase of wanting a '70 or '71.. Charger, Barracuda, Plymouth GTX or something like that, but I'm coming back out of that phase now (they're too desirable and expensive).

So what else from '55-67 might I find that is
a) not highly valuable (under £10k)
b) likely to be useable, and not require restoration or great expense
c) looks good

thanks